TOTALISATOR INSPECTORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1871, 31 August 1918, Page 3

TOTALISATOR INSPECTORS.

The Government has seen fit to appoint some totalisntor inspectors, a perfectly useless and unnecessary addition to the financial burdens of the Dominion. Totalisntor arrangements are very carefully and capably looked after by the various jockey clubs, and (o appoint special Btate-paid officials to do the work is nothing short of an absurdity. The general public cuiistitule themselves inspectors of lota lisa tors, and if there is the slightest hitch in the working of the legalised gambling machiiie they quickly dra w attention to the fact. There have been no scandals in connection with the totalizator. On the whole the racing i-luhs have managed the machines with the most commendable accuracy, and Government supervision is unwarranted, if is quite possible that a few pounds have been “rung on” to the machine somewhat late, but this is an accident that rarely happens, and so long as the Government gets it: commission on the gross total in the machine that is all that the Government need worry about. Why this solicitous care on the part of the Government to protect the-patrons of the totalizator? These gentry are not babes and sucklings; they know how many beans make five, and they know to a fraction what I heir dividends should be. It is really comical tiie paternal interest the Government has evinced for (he protection of the .-.weel innocents who frequent racecourses and patronise the machine. .However, if it is lo be the policy of the Government to wet-nurse gamblers they had heller do the thing properly whilst they are about it. A small army of inspectors had better he created lo supervise all kinds of gambling, card-playing included. There are plenty of self-sacrificing patriots in the Dominion who, for a consideration, would aecept an appointment as Managing Directors of '“two-up schools,” and could be relied upon to see that all “kips” were iof the legalised length and breadth. They.would also agree to act as poker supervisors and undertake t<i promptly gaol every mother’s son .who fried to bln If on a bob-tail flush —either in a pub or a club. —Elfham Argus.